LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION TO AUTOIMMUNITY AWARD, 2016

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​We are pleased to announce that following the tradition, three distinguished personalities have been chosen to receive the "Lifetime Contribution to Autoimmunity Award" in 2016. This award is presented every two years at the Autoimmunity Congress as a recognition to individuals who have contributed in a significant way to the field of autoimmunology.

The prize will be presented during the Opening Ceremony of the Congress.

​THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENTS

Dr. Robert Morris, USA​​

Dr. Robert Morris was born in 1940 in New Jersey. After graduating at Rutgers University, he attended Hahneman Medical School and he was accepted to the renowned UCLA Rheumatology Fellowship. Dr. Morris has taught through the UCLA medical school and other institutions for over 25 years.

In 1974 he began private practice, and was troubled by the paucity of quality autoimmune testing for his patients. After much effort Dr. Morris opened RDL in 1977, with the goal of providing the most reliable and cost effective laboratory testing for Rheumatologists throughout the USA. Since its inception, RDL has been a leader in scientific research, always at the forefront of new assay development, including introducing anti-CCP testing in the USA. In 1999 Dr. Morris retired from private practice in order to devote his full energies to RDL. In late 2003, Dr. Morris was diagnosed with a rare form of hydocephalus resistant to conventional treatments. After two years of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Dr. Morris returned to work full-time at RDL. From the time of his Fellowship until the present, Dr. Morris' vision has not been limited to his Practice and RDL. He was the primary investigator in the studies which demonstrated the link between HLA-B27, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Reactive Arthritis. This discovery was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1974. Dr. Morris was the first clinician to make a finding of legionella infection in synovial fluid. In addition to many other contributions, Dr. Morris has been instrumental in the development of the helminth compound as a potential treatment and/or vaccine for auto-immune disease. In 2014 Dr. Morris was made Master of the ACR.

Prof. Angela Tincani, Italy​

​Angela Tincani is Professor of Rheumatology, University of Brescia and Head of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Brescia General Hospital, Italy. After receiving her MD from the University of Milan in 1974, Prof. Tincani continued postgraduate studies in Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, before taking up several senior positions at the University of Brescia. Since 2010 she is Head of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit of Spedali Civili, Brescia.

Her main clinical and research areas include: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases in particular SLE and APS; management of pregnancy in patients with inflammatory arthritis and systemic autoimmune diseases: biomarkers of outcome and use of anti-rheumatic drugs in pregnant patients; evolution of autoantibodies determinations and reliability and clinical significance of emerging new technology. Professor Tincani has been included in the organization of many national and international congresses including the International Congress on Autoimmunity series since 1999 (Tel Aviv). She has served on many international committees for research and education in lupus, most recently the EULAR committee "Points to consider for use of antirheumatic drugs before pregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation" (2013–14) and, as co-chair, "Recommendations for the management of family planning, assisted reproduction, gestation, delivery and menopause in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Professor Tincani is a widely published author (300 publications indexed by PubMed with nearly 11000 citations and H-index 50 (by WOS). She is regional Editor (Europe) of the journal Autoimmunity and sits on the Editorial Boards of Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology and Autoimmunity Reviews.

Mr. Poju Zabludowicz, UK

Poju Zabludowicz is a global investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Poju is Chairman of Tamares which he has led since 1990. Tamares makes long-term investments in real estate, technology and primary sector and is a long-standing contributor to medical facilities. Over the years Poju has had an increased interest in the field of autoimmunity. He created the Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, one of the world's most advanced centers for research into autoimmune diseases. Poju has contributed to research on subjects like IVIg applications in autoimmunity, immunomodulating drugs and basic research on the etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune models.

In 1994, together with his wife, Anita Zabludowicz, Poju established The Zabludowicz Collection, a dynamic collection of contemporary art works. The Zabludowicz Collection has supported hundreds of new artists many of which have achieved significant success.

Poju Zabludowicz was born in Finland and remains a passionate supporter of his home country. Alongside Tamares' investment in Outotec, a leading Finnish mining technology company, Poju serves on its board of directors as well as on the board of the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki. He is also a key supporter in the initiative to establish Guggenheim Finland.​